Newbie - collecting GTI this week!

Hello,

Been lurking around the forum since doing a deal on an 83 GTI last week - seems like a great community on here!

I’m a life long petrolhead with a penchant for German cars of all shapes and sizes from various BMWs and Audis to Porsches in the past number of years.

That said, this is the first I will have owned and having always wanted a MK1 GTI I’m looking forward to realising the dream!

I made the cardinal sin of buying any car in that I bought it blind (sort of anyway!).  It was owned by a friend of a friend and although I’ve never seen it in the flesh, I known of the car for the past few years and have a very good idea of the work that has gone into it to get it to it’s current state.

I have posted a few pics and will list the full spec as soon as I pick it up on Weds.  A few of the ‘mods’ are not fully to my taste but a lot of it is easy enough to reverse if I decide to go down that route.

Looking forward to gleaning some good advice from you all as I get to know the car over the next few weeks/months.

Rich

Wow, welcome to the forum, that is one nice looking car.

As you said a few striking features - the seats look great but your eye is drawn to the door cards probably more striking in photos than in the flesh.

Why is it such a high percentage of really good cars seem to be in Ireland I wonder?

Thanks Richard.  Yes, I'm hoping interior isn't quite as 'striking' in the flesh.  As soon as funds allow plan is to change door cards back to standard.  Are they still available to buy?

But, first job is to remove that awful 'sticker bomb' from under the bonnet!

More details to follow.

Cheers
Rich

Well it's unique that's for sure! 🤔

I'd be tempted to leave it as it is but remember to wear my darker pair of sunglasses when I go to it. 😉 👍🏼

VW Heritage do new panels

Cheers for that Richard.  Will see how the interior looks in the flesh before I order anything. 

Eire911 said

Thanks Richard.  Yes, I'm hoping interior isn't quite as 'striking' in the flesh.  As soon as funds allow plan is to change door cards back to standard.  Are they still available to buy?

But, first job is to remove that awful 'sticker bomb' from under the bonnet!

More details to follow.

Cheers
Rich

newton commercial do the cards too, cheaper than heritage last time i checked.
 

Morning. Nice looking Car. Hope you have some good times !!

I like is overall. I think I rather tackle the door cards before the sticker bomb but lively little find. Not a lot to do by the looks of it to make is a more contemporary looking car.  Welcome on board.


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Me likey muchly! Personnally I wouldn't change a thing    

Welcome along to the club Rich.

Ian

Look great, as you said I'd lose the door cards and sticker bomb. 

Great car. Someone's had some fun jazzing it up. Be interesting to see what you make of it, please share pics of what you do and have fun

Thanks for the replies folks.

Been away with work for much of the past 2 weeks and now pretty much snowed in this week so haven't had much time to get to know this fantastic wee machine!

Had a great drive home from Cork to Dublin - it goes like a rocket and didn't miss a beat.  Got a chance to give it a clean and polish at the weekend and the only minor issues I've come across are a few small surface blisters on the front and rear valance - I've got it booked in to the body shop I use to get these sorted out as my OCD won't let me just leave alone…minor as it is!

On board MFA screen is blank and the 3 instrument dials (oil temp, pressure,volts) on the centre consol work perfectly until you put the headlights on…at which point they develop a mind of their own for some reason.

Interior thankfully not as 'loud' in the flesh as in the pics but still reckon I'll go back to standard black door cards in the future.  Shame as there's an invoice for 3600 euro for the retrim job in the history file…!!!  Seats are absolutely fantastic - after a bit of research I found out that they're genuine  recaro's taken from an old 635csi beemer.

Will get some more pics and a proper report up as soon as this crazy weather passes!

Rich

Hi Rich

Nice car - Welcome to the club - I have seen it a few times at the AT Autostyle in Kilkenny who did the interior trim.

We also had it at our show in Kilkenny in 2016 when we had the 40th GTI celebrations weekend. It really stood out.

It's a nice motor - gotta love those seats too.

We have an Ireland region so be sure to join that section for info on shows and meets etc.

This weather sure is crazy last few days!

That's great to know Hugh, thanks a lot.  Certainly keen to get along to a few meets and learn some more from the experts!  How do I get joined up for the Irish section?

I came across your website recently, what a gorgeous GTI you have!  Plan is to get this back to a more 'original' state over time but may be quite some time before it's in the same shape as what yours looks to be!

Cheers
Rich